Does the suit sense how powerful a hit is? see this ending up like wekaf matches which imo creates a problem for spectators. The matches are fast, close, and it's hard to see what's going on. The armor is part of the problem, players have no need to block or use powerful blows so the result is tag with a stick. The need for defense slows down the fight somewhat which is better for spectators and practical demonstration of the art. Ok speaking from an FMA/stickfighters perspective though, if the goal is to simulate a blade match, this may be a step in the right direction but i don't see what separates it from fencing, except of course the cool suits.

The armor is part of the problem, players have no need to block or use powerful blows so the result is tag with a stick. The need for defense slows down the fight somewhat which is better for spectators and practical demonstration of the art.

I am hoping it has pain sensors like those home made laser tag vests that people make out of TENS/EMS unit parts. So if you get hit it hurts, just doesn't shatter your bones or eviscerate you. I want to see some staff fights.

Don't know if want. How much impact can those sensors take before they spaz out and you're out a couple of thousand dollars?

One certainly can make pressure sensors that can take the load and still be pretty accurate. http://www.cutedigi.com/sensor/flexf...tml#googlebasehttp://www.cutedigi.com/pub/sensor/Flex/MSI-techman.pdf
gives it a mechanical resistance of 10^6 Pascals
Not willing to do the conversion to force but it should hold up quite an impact.
That is with a $2.66 vibration sensor.
I am sure if I actually dug into it I could find a piezoelectric film sensor that is better suited to this sort of project.
Point being the sensors shouldn't be a problem.

Does the suit sense how powerful a hit is? see this ending up like wekaf matches which imo creates a problem for spectators. The matches are fast, close, and it's hard to see what's going on. The armor is part of the problem, players have no need to block or use powerful blows so the result is tag with a stick. The need for defense slows down the fight somewhat which is better for spectators and practical demonstration of the art. Ok speaking from an FMA/stickfighters perspective though, if the goal is to simulate a blade match, this may be a step in the right direction but i don't see what separates it from fencing, except of course the cool suits.

Yes, the sensors calculate impact force and the computer system instantly cross-checks that data against certain thresholds - the force needed to break bones, penetrate muscle etc. So, basically, there's no need for judges to estimate whether a given strike to a "vital target" *would* have been disabling if the fighters weren't wearing armor. IMO that instant force feedback is also likely to make the matches more defense-oriented than WEKAF sparring, in that a single hit to a key target can literally end the match.

There's also talk of hooking the system up to a giant video monitor that would show the "real life" effect of each blow via CGI, as it happens and in slow-mo replay.

This may be a dumb question, but is there enough interest from both a fighter and spectator point to be worth the money?? From what I have seen most things like this are done with such small scale interest that they die before they gain any real steam. It's not really a criticism just wondering.

They're trying to start something new, so I'd say they're in pretty much the same position as the pioneers of the UFC. It's definitely a gamble and much will depend on how it's marketed.

I am hoping it has pain sensors like those home made laser tag vests that people make out of TENS/EMS unit parts. So if you get hit it hurts, just doesn't shatter your bones or eviscerate you. I want to see some staff fights.